1,100 voting sites planned in Kandahar

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Independent Election Commission (IEC) officials said on Monday a total of 1,100 polling stations would remain open during the runoff vote on June 14 in southern Kandahar province.

The decision came at a meeting arranged to review flaws and drawbacks in the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections. Governor Dr. Toryalai Weesa and IEC Director Eng. Abdul Hadi Dawari attended the meeting.

Gen. Isa Mohammad, the provincial National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief, Col. Rehmatullah Atrafi, police head, and Afghan National Army (ANA) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) representatives were also in attendance.

The province would have more polling sites to facilitate voters during the second round, Dawari said, recalling Kandahar had 900 polling stations during the previous round of polls. That number will surge to 1,100.

He promised the 300 IEC employees found guilty of rigging in the previous elections would be sacked. He hoped the country’s forces would be able to maintain tight security for the ballot.

Governor Weesa asked security forces to use all available resources to protect voters during the crucial second round of polls.